Establishing a Falls Prevention Coalition in South Dakota depended on showing the need for addressing the grave problem of falls among the state's older adults and coordinating stakeholders to work together on falls prevention.
The history of the South Dakota Falls Prevention Coalition
Prior to 2020, the South Dakota Fall Prevention Coalition was inactive. A variety of organizations identified falls among older adults as a serious public health concern and were contributing to initial fall prevention efforts in various ways. The SD Department of Health compiled necessary data to show the magnitude of the problem in our state. South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension and Sanford Health identified the need for community-based fall prevention education programs. Each institution received grants to implement evidence-based fall prevention programs. As each organization moved their individual efforts forward, they became aware of each other’s efforts and began working together to identify other stakeholders interested in fall prevention. The SD Department of Health, Sanford Health, and SDSU Extension, in collaboration with many individuals and organizations, relaunched the South Dakota Fall Prevention Coalition at the end of 2019.
SDSU Extension and Sanford Health staff provided leadership and administrative support for the coalition to developing bylaws and a strategic plan. The SD Department of Health provided a website to host coalition materials, and coalition members worked collaboratively to compile a SD Fall Prevention toolkit to address fall risk factors among older adults. Since the relaunch of the SD Fall Prevention Coalition, members have been actively engaged in education and outreach activities to raise awareness about fall prevention efforts in South Dakota.
Current goals and objectives for the South Dakota Falls Prevention Coalition
In its strategic plan, the South Dakota Falls Prevention Coalition has stated it will pursue the following strategic goals:
- Develop a sustainable statewide coalition
- Identify and invite members to join the coalition
- Develop an infrastructure to support and sustain the coalition
- Collaborate with other coalitions and special interest groups to integrate older adult services
- Develop a business and sustainability plan
- Increase public awareness and knowledge about falls
- Monitor fall-related data to measure outcomes and to inform the public
- Partner on a coalition website and social media platform
- Develop education and marketing materials
- Perform outreach and presentations across the state
- Increase the implementation of evidence-based fall prevention interventions
- Expand reach and access to evidence-based fall prevention screening
- Expand reach and access to evidence-based fall prevention interventions
- Increase advocacy for policies and systems that promote fall prevention
- Identify state and local fall prevention champions
- Align fall prevention efforts with other state and local programming
Leadership for the South Dakota Falls Prevention Coalition
- South Dakota Department of Health
- Sanford Health
Leadership Contact Information
- Chair: Noel Miller, Sanford Health; noel.miller@sanfordhealth.org
- Secretary: Ally Gross, South Dakota Department of Health; Ally.Gross@state.sd.us
Key Partners for the South Dakota Falls Prevention Coalition
- AARP South Dakota
- Active Generations
- American Physical Therapy Association—South Dakota Chapter
- Avera McKennan Hospital
- Avera St. Luke's Hospital Aberdeen
- Countryside Living
- Faulkton Area Medical Center
- For Life Physical Therapy
- FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers
- Good Samaritan Society
- Goodcare, LLC
- Great Plains Quality Innovation Network
- Health Connect of South Dakota
- Kore Cares
- Life Physical Therapy
- Madison Regional Health Systems
- Menno-Olivet Care Center
- Monument Health
- Rapid City Fire Department
- Sanford Aberdeen Medical Center
- Sanford USD Medical Center
- Senior Companions of South Dakota
- South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations
- South Dakota Chiropractors Association
- South Dakota Department of Human Services
- South Dakota Emergency Nurses Association
- South Dakota Fire and Life Safety Committee
- South Dakota Occupational Therapy Association
- South Dakota State University Extension
- South Dakota Health Care Association
- United Living Community
What has the South Dakota Falls Prevention Coalition achieved?
- Development of the South Dakota Falls Prevention Coalition Toolkit
- Hosts annual Falls Prevention Awareness Week CEU webinar
What are the current challenges for the South Dakota Falls Prevention Coalition?
- Members have a limited amount of time available for outreach efforts (e.g., screening events)
- Staff turnover in partner agencies
What evidence-based falls prevention programs are currently offered by organizations participating in the South Dakota Falls Prevention Coalition?
What outcomes are monitored by the South Dakota Falls Prevention Coalition?
- Reduce the number of fall-related deaths by 5% by 2025 or 2026
- Reduce the number of fall-related hospitalizations by 10% by 2025 or 2026
